I have come to Karachi once again and its part of my pledge with the people of Pakistan and of this city.

I have joined you at this auspicious gathering at the groundbreaking ceremony for the country’s largest power project.

The beginning of the 2200 MW power project is indeed a proud moment in the energy history of Pakistan. This is one of the first steps of our goal of racing towards a “load-shedding free” Pakistan. I am grateful to the Chinese government for extending help and support to Pakistan in this hour of need.

This ground-breaking ceremony for the 2200 MW power project is just a small step yet it is also a momentous landmark in the long and glorious history of Pak-China friendship and cooperation. Our mutually beneficial collaboration is spread over a wide range of projects in all geographical terrains, from the heights of the Karakoram to the waters of the Arabian Sea. The enduring friendship that the two countries enjoy and the unwavering support that Pakistan has been getting from the Chinese Government at international forums continues to be a source of great strength for us. The commencement of this Project takes the strong relationship between our two nations to an even higher level.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

It also gives me a great pleasure and satisfaction to recall that the contract for the first nuclear power plant, of Chinese origin, built at Chashma was signed by my government during my first term as Prime Minister of Pakistan. This laid the foundations of a project-based cooperation between the two countries in the field of nuclear power.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

It’s a dividend of the clarity and priorities of our government that the international community has welcomed us with open arms. It was not without a reason that China gave me the privilege to visit immediately, once our government was formed.

But this is going to change. I have my pledge to the people of Pakistan and may God grant me courage and opportunity to change the destiny of our masses. I have vowed to toil to see a Pakistan which is secure, democratic, tolerant and with equal opportunities for all. A Pakistan where the business, trade and agriculture flourish, a Pakistan, where the capable and efficient will be treated on merit; where minds are open to new ideas and new ways of development. And this is not a mere dream. It always seems impossible until it is done.

Insha Allah we are going to realize this dream.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Karachi being our major port has an immense potential. Today people look with envy towards cities like Dubai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. I wish to see Karachi in this list of harbors and industrial hubs because I believe in the people of this city. They have been yearning for the federal government to lend them a hand in bringing back its peace and economic activity. Alhamd-o-Lillah, we are on the track with cooperation of the provincial government and concerned stake-holders.

My government is fully committed to steer Pakistan to an era of sustained economic growth that will eradicate the burdens of poverty and bring new hope for a prosperous future to the 180 million people of this country. We have a comprehensive short term as well as long term Power plan to put Pakistan back on track of development. We have decided to construct both Diamer-Bhasha and Dasu dams, simultaneously. Bunji dam will also be constructed. Together these dams have capacity of 15,000 Mega Watts. This is the capacity we have only on one river, River Indus. We are also exploring further avenues to utilize our hydel capacity to our full capacity.

Another venture initiated by our government is Pakistan Power Park at Gaddani in Baluchistan. This project will have will have 10 coal-based power projects each producing 660 MW. Government of Pakistan will finance the first project itself while Chinese corporations have also shown interest in setting up coal-based power plants in Gaddani. Medium term initiatives of the Government to overcome the power shortage also include Wind Energy generation of 2500 MW, CASA project of 1000 MW by 2017, Terbela-V extension project by 2017. Import of LNG will also start next year which will drastically reduce gas load-shedding.

For achieving the goal of energy, nuclear power will form an increasingly significant component. Karachi Coastal Power Project (K-2/K-3) should be seen as an important step forward in that direction. But this will have to be followed up by many other such projects in other parts of the country with vital power needs.

I just had a presentation where I was informed that 6 additional sites have been identified where other such projects can be set up, and I assured my fullest support. I was also informed that this project would take 72 months to complete but I address the engineers working on this project to complete it as soon as possible. It is required urgently because Pakistan needs power for a strong economy.

In fact, during the next few years, I look forward to laying a strong and solid foundation for the Nuclear Energy Vision 2050 which envisages nuclear power generation of about 40,000 MW by the Year 2050 for a strong, prosperous, and dynamic Pakistan.

At this juncture, I would encourage the Chinese companies, friends and brothers to invest in power projects in Pakistan and would like to assure them that the Government of Pakistan will facilitate them in every way in these ventures.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

I congratulate Strategic Plans Division and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission on the groundbreaking of its fifth and the largest power project. I wish them success in the coming years in the realization of Energy Vision -2050. I would also like to assure them of full government support for the smooth and successful completion of the K-2/K-3 project.

Allow me to end my speech with some golden words from the great Chinese leader Chairman Mao’s red book, who said – “The people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of world history.”